The Beatles won a Grammy last night, thanks to AI

The Beatles’ AI-assisted track “Now and Then” won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance on Sunday night, marking the first time that a song of its kind has taken home the award.

No, Paul McCartney did not use AI to create some creepy LennonGPT bot. Instead, he used noise reduction systems to clean up a decades-old, low-quality piano demo from his late bandmate. This technology is similar to what video call providers like Zoom, FaceTime, and Google Meet use to block out unwanted background noise and deliver a clearer sound.

The surviving Beatles first tried to fix up Lennon’s demo in the 90s, but the technology available at the time couldn’t quite extract Lennon’s muffled vocals. In 2022, after learning how the filmmakers behind archival Beatles documentary “Get Back” were using new audio isolation techniques to make poorly recorded demos listenable, they revisited “Now and Then.”

https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/03/the-beatles-won-a-grammy-last-night-thanks-to-ai/

 

This is a great example of how AI can be used effectively to achieve great results.

 

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 4, 2025 at 10:55 AM

@tzzsmk

By the way, you've been writing a lot of threads about AI and music, but do you work in an AI-related field? Or are you just a hobbyist who knows a lot about it?

 

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 4, 2025 at 10:56 AM

I love the idea of having an 82 year old Paul McCartney, not an engineer or someone for that but him personally clicking on a website like udio or suno for hours trying to get a prompt that works with an old demo or something and yelling " Give me the song I want you **********er "

 

I work in broadcast industry, so it's very AI related, but I'm not directly in research dept.

 

The Beatles' Now and Then is The First AI-Assisted Song to Win The Grammy

Remixing old 1960's recordings with AI technology (A/B comparison) - The Beatles - Ed Sullivan Show

 

Keep in mind that the AI software used to help in removing noise from an old recording is in no way analogous to using prompts to actually create a new Beatles song.

 

I see.
In that case, you can get the latest information on AI right away!
I work in a job that has nothing to do with AI or music, so I'm really envious of you.

 

this thing is the best marketing for AI, being in a Beatles song

but who will tell "normal people" that it was just a stem separation tool, a noise gate and a old waves X-crackle?
The song is 100% John's own then played by his guys as usual, and there's no AI at all.

 

Watch SEAN ONO LENNON's acceptance speech as they accept the GRAMMY for BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE for "NOW AND THEN" at the 2025 GRAMMYs.
The 2025 GRAMMYs are raising funds for MusiCares Fire Relief, a dedicated campaign to support the people affected by the recent wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles Area. All money raised will remain in the community and will be used to aid those impacted.

THE BEATLES Win BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE For "NOW AND THEN" | 2025 GRAMMYs Acceptance Speech

The Beatles won their first and second Grammys in 1965 at the 7th Grammy Awards, where they earned best new artist and best performance by a vocal group for their timeless hit “A Hard Day’s Night.”

The Beatles - A Hard Day's Night (Remastered 2015)

Before their split in 1970, the Beatles won two more Grammys for best contemporary album and album of the year for their classic and groundbreaking album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” In 1997, they earned three more trophies, including a best long form music video for their music film “The Beatles Anthology” and two for “Free As a Bird,” a song featured in it.

 

The Rutles would never use AI. Just saying.

 

The Rutles is a fictional band from the 1970s that parodies the British band The Beatles from the 1960s.

The Rutles: Major Happy's Up-And-Coming Once Upon A Good Time Band / Rendezvous

 

Slightly ironic Sean Ono Lennon accepting the award being that the Grammy's five year rule regarding recordings means that the Lennon and Harrison contributions to the record aren't actually eligible for nomination.

Another egregious misuse of the "AI" buzzword...more fool me for doing similar restoration projects and not mentioning the use of machine learning tools. I might have to raise my prices and change the marketing to... "Powered by Advanced AI Technology".

 

Well spotted. tzzsmk is indeed a renowned expert at training Loras to produce pics of Lauras.

 

Don't be. That's why this place is so great. We are usually up to date with the latest and the hottest, without the BS of Gearspace and other sites. You'll find the occasional drama, but nothing that hasn't been handled before.

 

But that's exactly the job of a Grammy, to generate money, you should take a look at the list of the Grammy committee, who controls the nomination? Unfortunately, it's secret! The AI hype is fueled by a Grammy...!

Quote:
The former One Direction singer Zayn Malik criticized the anonymous nomination committees in March. "I'm keeping up the pressure and fighting for transparency and inclusion. We need to make sure we honor and celebrate everyone's 'creative excellence'. End the secret committees," tweeted the singer, who has never been nominated with his former group or as a solo artist.

 

oh actually I'm just a humble user of sauces I find, training LORAs is yet beyond scope of my skills

 

I dont mind too much about the "AI marketing"

The Beatles arrived n. 1 in EVERYTHING about modern/popular/vocal music, so it was just normal that they arrived n. 1 on this thing again...that's because they are The Beatles